Air-starting system for internal-combustion engines.



. VER PLANCK.

TEM FOR INTERNAL con/:Bus

TIUN ENGINES.

AIR STARTING SYS f 510.5 6 I. a w a Inventor.' Wi I I iam 4I:.\/er` Planck W. E. VER PLANCK. AIR STARTING SYSTEMFOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED AuG.2. 191s.

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UNKTEU STA ES PATENT @F.FllQl.

WILLIAM EVERETT VER PLANCK, F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. I

AIR-STARTING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Leashes.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patenttd Seaplj. 11i, 191i?.

lpplication tiled August 2, 1916. Serial No. 112,841.

To all 'whom' t may concern.'

Beit known that I, WILLIAM Evnnn'r'r VER PLANCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, county of Erie, State of Pennsylvania, ,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Starting Systems for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to internal combustion engines of the type wherein a scavenging pump voperated from the'crank shaft of the engine is provided for furnishing scavenging air to the. cylinder and in which such pump is also utilized as an air motor to start the engine.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement in connection with an engine of this type.

" For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention attention is directed to the accompanying specification and claims appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a transverse section of a multicylinder engine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the scavenging pump taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 3, the section being such as to show certain of the parts in line for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the scavenging pump; and Fig. L shows in outline a gas electric car in connection with which the engine illustrated may advantageously be used.

Referring. to the drawing, 5 indicates thel base of a multicylinder internal combustion engine, 6 and 7 two of the'cylinders thereof, and 8 the crank shaft. The engine is shown as .being of a type having its cylinders arranged on oppositesides of the crank shaft and in V shaped relation to each other after .vertically over the crank shaft between ,the

cylinders and is suitably supported on the engine base. It is of the double acting type and supplies air to the usual receiver 15 4through a .ball valve 35 which surrounds thel cylinders and from which air is supplied to the scavenging ports of the engine cylinders. 16 and 17 indicate ports which communicate with the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 9 and act alternately as admission and discharge ports. They are controlled by a reciprocating valve 18 which slides in the valve casing 19. The valve 18 comprises a cylindrical member 20 connected to the valve stem 21 by webs 22. The two ends of the member 20 are enlarged to form sleeves 23 and 24; which slide in short cylinders 25 and 26. Surrounding the member 20,is a chamber 27 which is the admission or suction chamber of the pump, while the space 28 within the cylindrical member 2O forms a discharge passage which co1nmunicates with the receiver 15 through openings 29. The sleeves 23 and 24 move over the ports 16 and 17 and serve to alternately connect them with suction chamber 27 and discharge passage 28. The stem 21 slides in a guide cylinder 30 and is connected to an eccentric (not shown) on the crank shaft by a connecting rod 31. Air is supplied to the admission or suction cham- 4ber 27 through an opening 32 which connects with a conduit 33 which passes down through the base of the engine and connects with an air trunk 34. The upper end of the conduit 33 is formed as a valve casing 33b in which is located a valve 35. The valve comprises an annular portion 35a whichvfits the valve casing, and a smaller portion which forms a cylinder 35" and to which is attached guide'wings 350. Supported within the valve casing 33b is a iixed piston 35d over which the cylinder 35b slides. The piston 35d has an axial opening 35a through it, and at one end is provided with a ball valve 35t adapted to close the opening 35e. The valve 35 has two positions, the position as shown in Fig. 1 wherein the ronduit 33 is connected to the suction chamber 27 which is the normal operating position, and the position as shown in Fig. 2 wherein such connection is shut off, this latter being the air starting position. The valve 35 is normally held in the Fig. 1 position by a spring 36 and is moved to the Fig. 2 position by the pressure of the starting air which is admitted to the valve casing above valve 35 pipe 37 leading-.from a supply tank 38. Thepurpose ofthe piston 35d and is to cushion the movement of the valve from the Fig. 1 position to the Fig. 2 position, as is explained more fully hereinafter. In the pipe 37 is a Isuitable hand operated valve 39 for controlling the air supply. The relative arrangement of the scavenging pump, the reciprocating valve, and the conduit which supplies air thereto is shown in the plan view, Fig. 3, wherein 9a indicates the head of the pump cylinder, 19a the head of the valve casing, and 33a a cap which closes the' end of the conduit. These parts are all held in place by suitable bolts, as shown, so that they can be readily removed when found desirable. In Fig. 2 the conduit 33 is shown as being in line with the valve casing 19 and the cylinder 9, the section upon which the figure is taken being an irregular one in order to illustrate more clearly the operation of the apparatus. Connected with the receiver 15 is a. pressure relief valve 40 which, during the starting operation, is opened to relieve the pressure in the receiver 15 so that when the scavenging pump is acting as an air motor there will not be too much back pressure lon it.

' The valve 40 is formed with an 'extension 41 forming a piston which slides in a. cylinder 42, and it is normally held seated by a spring l43 which is sufliciently strong to hold it closed against the normal scavenging air pressure. Connected with the lower end of cylinder 42 beneath the extension 41 is a branch pipe 44 leading from the pipe 37 for admitting compressed air under the piston for opening the valve whenever the air is turned on to start the engine. 41x1 is a cup shaped member which serves as aseat for spring 43 and also acts as a stop to limit lthe opening of valve 40. The air vented past the valve from the receiver 15 is led away by a conduit 45 which may connect to atmosphere or other region of lowe'r pressure.

In t e particular structure illustrated the upper end o f stem 21 of valve 18 slides in a cylinder, as indicated at 46, to form an air compressor, 47 indicating the valves of such compressor. This is not illustrated in detail as it forms no part of the present invention.

As already stated, air is supplied to the conduit 33 from a trunk 34, this being the arrangement preferably employed when the engine is used in connection with a gas electric car. The air trunk 34 as shown in Fig. 4 extends lengthwise of the oar underv the floor thereof and is connected through a hole 48 inthe floor with the conduit 33. The air supplied to the air trunk 34 is taken in through the casings of the motors which are mounted on one or more of the car trucks and directly propel it, so as to ventilate and oool such motors. 50- indicates the motor casings and 51 conduits fixed on the y upper sides thereof and communicating with theI air trunk through pipes 52. In each instance the mechanical connection between the ball valve 35f.

conduit 51 and pipe 52 is of such a nature that the one may slide relative to the other and that both may shift up and down, and to this end the upper end of conduit 51 is provided with `a flat 'surface against which bears a flange 53 on the lower end of pipe Pipe 52 passes through an opening 54 in the air trunk packing 55. It is not fastened to the trunk 34 and hence is'free to slide inthe opening 54, and it is held with the flange 53 in engagement with the upper end of conduit 51 by a spring 56. This provides substantially a universal joint connection between conduit 51 and pipe 52. v

The operation is as follows:

34 and is surrounded by a When it is desired to start the engine the hand valve 39 is turned to admit air from the reservoir 38 to the pipe 37. Air flows from this pipe through the branch pipe 44 to the cylinder 42 and acts on the piston 41 to open the pressure relief valve 40. Air

also enters the top of the conduit y33 above the valve and forces it down from the Fig. 1 position to the Fig. 2 position thus cutting off communication between admission conduit and the opening 32 which leads to the valve casing 19. In the movement of the valve 35, a body of air is trapped in the cylinder 351 above the end of the fined piston 35, the presure of which closes This air can only escape around the outer edge of the piston 35d, and since a fairly close .fit is provided the air entrapped offers a substantial resistance tothe seating of the valve 35. This is desirable because the pressure of the starting air is fairly high and otherwise the valve would be moved too violently. Air from pipe37 (then enters the valve casing 19 through open. ing 32 to operate the scavenging pump as an air motor. In the position of the parts as shown in Fig. 2, air from the chamber 27 is being admitted through port 17 to the under side of the piston 10, the samemoving on its upward stroke.

air above the piston is exhausting through opening 16, space 28, openings 29, scavenging air receiver 15 and past vent valve 40 through pipe 45 to atmosphere. At about the time the p iston 10 reaches the upper end of its stroke, the valve 20 has moved up until its position is reversed, the port 16 being then connected with the chamber 27, and the port 17 being connected with the receiver 15. Air is then admitted above the piston 10 to move it on its downward stroke. As

connecting the scavenging pumpk to the admission conduit 33. During this movement At the same time the insecte the ball valve 35t will be unseated and will permit of the free movement of the valve 35. The ump is then driven from the engine in tiife normal manner to perform its function as a scavenging pump, and when so operating it draws its supply of air through the motor casing as referred to above for the purpose of ventilating and cooling the motors.

The vent valve 40 also acts as a relief valve or safety valve to relieve any undue pressure which may occur in the receiver 15, such as might be occasioned, for example, by an explosion occurring therein.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

lVhat I claimas new, and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine, of a pump operated from the crank shaft of the engine for supplying scavenging air thereto, said pump comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, and a valve mechanism which controls the admission of air to, and the discharge of air from, the cylinder, a conduit through which air is drawn into the pump, a valve for shutting off communication between the conduit and the pump, a pipe for supplying air under pressure to the pump to operate it as an air motor, and means controlled b v the pressure of the air when so supplied to automatically operate the last named valve.

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine, of a pump operated from vthe crank shaft of the engine for supplying scavenging air thereto, said pump comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, and a valve mechanism which controls the admission of air to, and the discharge of air from, the cylinder, a port through which air enters the pump, a conduit communicating with said port and through which air is drawn when the pump is operating to supply scavenging air, a pipe connected to said port for supplying air under pressure to it to operate the pump as an air motor. and a valve in the conduit for shutting ott communication between the conduit and the port. said valve being moved to. such position by the pressure of the air when starting air is admitted to said pipe.

3. The combination with an internal com -bustion engine having a scavenging air receiver, of a pump operated from thecrank shaftl ofthe engine for supplying scavenging air thereto. said pump comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, and-a valve mecha nism which controls the admission of air to the cylinder and the discharge of air from the cylinder 'to the receiver, a conduit through which air is drawn into the pump, a valve for shutting oft' communication be 'tween the conduit and the pump, a pipe for supplying air under pressure to the pump to operate it as an air motor, means controlled by the pressure of the air when so supplied to automatically operate the last named valve, and a pressure relief valve connected to the receiver which is also opened by said air pressure to relieve the pressure in the receiver.

4. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a scavenging air receiver, of a pump operated from the crank shaft of the engine for supplying scavenging air thereto, said pump comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, and a. valve mechanism which controls the admission of air to, and the discharge of air from, the cylinder, a port through which air enters the pump, a

conduit having its upper end connected with said port, and through which air is drawn when the pump is operating to supply scavenging air to the receiver, a valve in the upper end of said conduit which is adapted to be moved to close off communication between the conduit and said port, and a pipe connected with the upper end of said conduit for supplying starting air to operate the pump as an air motor, said starting air when supplied operating on the last named valve to move it tothe position Where it cuts off communication,between the conduit and the port.

5. The combination with a gas electric ear having propelling motors, of an air trunk with which the casings of said motors are connected, an internal combustion engine for thecar, a pump operated from the crank shaft of the engine for supplying scavenging air thereto, said pump comprising a cyl-` inder, a piston, and a valve mechanism operated from the crank shaft for controlling the admission of air to, and the discharge of air from, the cylinder, a conduit which connects the pump to the ai-r trunk and through ,which'air is drawn when the pump is operating to supply scavenging air, a pipe for supplying compressed air to the pump to operate it as an air motor to start the engine, a valve in said conduit, and means operated by the pressure of the starting air when supplied to the pump for closing said valve to cut off communication between the conduit and the pump.

6. The combination with a gas electric car having propelling motors, an air trunk with which the casings of said motors are connected, an internal combustion engine for the car having a scavenging air receiver, a pump operated from the crank shaft of the engine for supplying scavenging air te the receiver, said pump comprising a cylinder, a piston, and a valve .mechanism operated from the crank shaft for controlling the admission of air to, and the discharge of air 5 from, the cylinder, a conduit which connects the pump to the air trunk and through which air is drawn When the pump is operating to supply scavening air, a pipe for supplying compressed air to the pump to operate it as an air motor to start the engine, a valve in said conduit, means operated by the pressure of the starting air when supplied to the pump for closing said valve to cut ofi' communication between the conduit and the pump, a vent valve connected With the scavenging air receiver, and means also operated by the starting air for opening said vent valve to relieve the pressure in the reteiver.

7 'The combination with a gas electric car naving apropelling motor provided with a casing, of an internal combustion engine for the car, a pump operated from the crank shaft of the engine for supplying scavenging air thereto, said pump comprising a cylinder, a piston, and a. valve mechanism operated from the crank shaft Jfor controlling the admission of air to and the discharge of air from the cylinder, and conduit means connecting the pump to the motor casing.

8. The combination in a gas electric car, of. a propelling motor having a casing provided With an inlet and an outlet for the ad- /mission and discharge of cooling air, an inta ternal combustion engine for the car, a.

scavenging air receiver for the engine, a pump for supplying scavenging air to the receiver, a conduit connecting the outlet of the motor casing to thc suction inlet of said pump, and a valve controlling said conduit said pum actingto suck air through the motor casing and connecting conduit and deliver it to said receiver.

9. The combination With a gas electric car having propelling motorsf an air trunki said motors are with which the casings o connected, an internal combustion engine for the car having a scavenging air receiver, a pump operated from the crank shaft of the engine for supplying scavenging air to the receiver, said pump comprising a cylinder, a' piston, and a valve mechanism operated from the crank shaft for controlling the admission of air-to andthe discharge of air from the cylinder, and a conduit which connects the pump to the air trunk and through which air is drawn when the pump is operating to supply scavenging air to the receiver. 10. The combination in a gas electric car, of propelling motors therefor having casings provided with inlets and outlets for the admission and discharge of cooling air, an

air trunk with Which the outlets of sail motor casings connect, an internal combustion engine for the car, a scavenging air re ceiver for the engine, a pump for supplying scavenging air to the receiver, and a conduit connecting theair trunk to the suction inlet of the pump, said pump' acting to suck air through the motor casings, the air trunk and said connecting conduit and deliver it to the receiver.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of July, 1916.

WILLIAM EVERTT YER PLANCK, 

